Cardless financial transactions

ABSTRACT

An automatic-transaction-machine (ATM) has a housing covering at least a portion of the ATM, a transmitter, and a receiver. The processor controls at least portions of some financial transactions conducted by the ATM. A banking computer system associated with the ATM is receives a pre-created transaction request from a customer using a mobile device. The ATM will not process the pre-created transaction request until the customer is verified to be present at the ATM. When the customer later brings the mobile device within range of the transmitter of the ATM, the ATM presents transaction-verification data to be received by the mobile device. The receiver of the ATM is configured to receive mobile-verification data back from the mobile device that is responsive to the transaction-verification data. When the mobile-verification data is authenticated by the banking computer system the ATM is configured to execute the pre-created transaction request.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/990,946 filed on May 9, 2014. This application also claims priority to PCT application PCT/US15/030174 filed on May 11, 2015. The subject matter of both applications is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There remains a need in the art for cardless ATM transactions and related methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment for creating a mobile-wallet data set.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment for pre-staging a cardless ATM transaction using a personal computing device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment for performing a cardless ATM transaction using a personal computing device in coordination with an ATM.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a universal overview of an embodiment for performing a cardless ATM transaction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Generally provided is a cardless ATM transaction driven by inputs from both 1) a personal computing device, and 2) an ATM. In embodiments, inputs from a personal computing device are used to create data set(s) that are subsequently used to drive an ATM transaction in a similar fashion to the dataset(s) created from a traditional debit card when inserted into an ATM to initiate an ATM transaction. As a result, embodiments allow for a cardless ATM transaction to be performed.

Method and system embodiments are directed to: 1) creating a mobile-wallet data set, and 2) executing an ATM transaction using the mobile-wallet data set. Embodiments are generally described in the context of computer-readable logic executed by one or more general-purpose computers. For example, in a portion of an embodiment, computer readable logic is stored on a server computer system and accessed by a client computer via a communications link or a network, such as an intranet, Internet, virtual private network, or another computer network. And because the basic structures and functions related to computer-readable routines and corresponding implementations are known, they have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments.

Details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-4 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention may have additional embodiments that may be practiced without several of the details described below. In some instances, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the methods and systems described herein can include additional details without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed embodiments. Additionally, some known structures and systems associated with automated teller machines (ATMs), mobile devices, and associated computer networks have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments.

In the following figures, identical reference numbers identify identical or at least generally similar elements. In the flow diagrams, a rectangle represents a process, task, action, or operation; a diamond presents a question; and a parallelogram shows input or output.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of how a user can create mobile-wallet data set 16 by using personal computing device 4, e.g., a computing tablet or mobile phone, to input a plurality of required data sets that together make up mobile-wallet data set 16. Mobile-wallet data set 16 is a collection of one or more electronic data sets that may include at least one personal debit-card data set 18, e.g., a data set that provides debit-card number, CVV number, and expiration-date information, and at least one personal-information data set 20, e.g., cardholder name. In an embodiment, mobile-wallet data set 16 may include a data set associated with a credit or debit card distinct from personal debit-card data set 18 mentioned above. Block 100 shows a user being prompted to create mobile-wallet data set 16 by using personal computing device 4 to input a plurality of data sets that include 1) personal debit-card data set 18, and 2) personal-information data set 20, shown respectively in blocks 100A and 100B. In decision block 102, the user is shown as having to decide whether to input the prompted data sets, i.e., personal debit-card data set 18 and personal-information data set 20. Block 104 shows the user inputting the requested data sets by populating the data fields prompted to the user; these combined requested data sets make up mobile-wallet data set 16. In response to populating the prompted data fields, block 106 shows computing device 4 sending mobile-wallet data set 16 to server 6 that then forwards mobile-wallet data set 16 to mobile-wallet server 8 for hosting.

In an embodiment, personal computing device 4 sends mobile-wallet data set 16 to server 6 that then forwards mobile-wallet data set 16 to server 8 for hosting. In another embodiment, computing device 4 sends mobile-wallet data set 16 to server 6 that executes an algorithm on at least a portion of mobile-wallet data set 16 and thereby determines the appropriate host-server destination for mobile-wallet data set 16. In response to reaching this algorithm-driven-host-server-destination determination, mobile-wallet data set 16 is then forwarded from server 8 to the identified host-server destination from amongst a plurality of host servers. In an embodiment, server 6 may have a plurality of host-server destinations to select from, wherein the plurality of host-server destinations are specific as to the type of mobile-wallet data set 16 that they each respectively host. In other words, each host-server destination (i.e., host server) may respectively host different types of mobile-wallet data set(s) 16. Mobile-wallet data set 16 may include data that the algorithm (performed on server 6) determines is associated with a specific banking institution, and in response to reaching this determination, causes mobile-wallet data set 16 to be forwarded from server 6 to the dedicated host server for that specific bank or bank data. As an illustrative example, mobile-wallet data set 16 relating to ABC bank is sent from server 6 to a host server dedicated to hosting ABC-bank mobile-wallet data sets; mobile-wallet data set 16 relating to DEF bank is sent from server 6 to a host server dedicated to hosting DEF-bank mobile-wallet data sets; mobile-wallet data set 16 relating to GHI bank is sent from server 6 to a host server dedicated to hosting GHI-bank mobile-wallet data sets; and so on.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment for pre-staging a cardless ATM transaction using personal computing device 4. More specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical-user-interface (GUI) flow diagram, depicted as it would be displayed on personal computing device 4, for pre-staging an ATM transaction.

In an embodiment, a mobile-cash-access app is lauched on personal computing device 4, and “password/passcode” data-entry page 22 is displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to entering an acceptable password/passcode, “home” page 24 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to selecting “set up withdrawal” displayed on “home” page 24 on the touchsceen GUI, “accounts” page 26 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4′s touchscreen GUI. In response to selecting the card image on the touchscreen GUI that represents the account and desired mobile data set 16 to be used in the transaction, “PIN” page 28 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to entering the correct PIN associated with the account and desired mobile data set 16 to be used in the transaction, “cash amount” page 30 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to selecting a cash amount on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI, pre-staging of the cardless ATM transaction using personal computing device 4 is complete.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment for performing a cardless ATM transaction using personal computing device 4 in coordination with ATM 2. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical-user-interface (GUI) flow diagram depicted as it would be displayed on personal computing device 4 at the time of performing a cardless ATM transaction using personal computing device 4 in coordination with ATM 2.

In an embodiment, “home screen” 24 is displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to selecting the “pay” button on “home screen” page 24, “select queued transaction” page 34 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to selecting the desired queued transaction, “scan code” page 36 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to personal computing device 4 scanning the QR code displayed on ATM 2's GUI interface, “transaction processing” page 38 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI. In response to the ATM transaction being complete, “transaction complete” page 40 is subsequently displayed on personal computing device 4's touchscreen GUI.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a universal overview of an embodiment for performing a cardless ATM transaction. In FIG. 4, consumer uses the GUI interface of ATM 2 to initiate a cardless ATM transaction. ATM 2, that is configured to receive and execute the “initiate-a-cardless-ATM-transaction” command, responds to the command by sending client request 101 to mobile-wallet server 8 (that hosts mobile-wallet data set 16) via cloud server 6. In response to receiving client request 101, mobile-wallet server 8 generates and sends a token, e.g. a QR code, response 102 back to ATM 2 via cloud server 6 using a virtual-private-network (VPN) connection. In response to receiving the token/QR code back from server 8, ATM 2 displays the token/QR code on its GUI interface to be scanned by personal computing device 4. Consumer opens mobile-cash-access app on personal computing device 4 and captures the token by scanning the token displayed on ATM 2's GUI interface. Capturing of the token by personal computing device 4 is shown as data transfer 103. In response to personal computing device 4 capturing the token, personal computing device 4 subsequently sends token data, that includes at least a portion of mobile-wallet data set 16, to both mobile-wallet server 8 and PIN authentication engine server 10 (via server 6); these data transfers are shown as 104 a and 104 b respectively.

Regarding data-transfer 104 a, in response to receiving token-data transfer 104 a, mobile-wallet server 8 executes an algorithm that i) validates the authenticity of personal computing device 4, ii) validates the authenticity of the mobile-cash-access app running on personal computing device 4, iii) validates the app passcode entered by the consumer, and iv) validates the token. In response to validating these items, mobile-wallet server 8 sends available consumer financial accounts to personal computing device 4 shown as data transfer 110. In response to receiving available consumer financial accounts, personal computing device 4 displays the available consumer financial accounts on the GUI of personal computing device 4; an illustrative embodiment of this is shown on webpage 26 of FIG. 2. Consumer then selects a consumer financial account from those displayed on personal computing device 4. In an embodiment, the amount of the transaction is not pre-staged and the amount of the transaction must be entered into either ATM 2 or personal computing device 4.

Regarding data transfer 104 b from personal computing device 4 to PIN authentication engine server 10, in response to receiving data transfer 104 b, PIN authentication engine server 10 then forwards at least a portion of data transfer 104 b to EFT network and issuer for PIN authentication purposes. In an alternate embodiment, in addition to receiving token-data transfer 104 b, an embodiment has PIN authentication engine server 10 also receiving the consumer's PIN data entry that has been entered by the consumer into ATM 2 or personal computing device 4.

Data transfer 105 represents the i) card number, ii) PIN, and iii) transaction data set being sent from ATM 2 to EFT network 14 via ATM driver 12. Data transfer 105 is sent to EFT network in order to receive authorization to execute the transaction. Upon authorizing the transaction (based at least in part on the data provided by data transfer 104 b), EFT network 14 sends authorization data set 106 to ATM 2 via ATM driver 12. The transaction is then authorized and settlement occurs as is commonly known in the ATM industry and is represented as data transfer 107. A digital receipt is then delivered to personal computing device 2 from cloud server 6 as shown by data transfer 108.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. An automatic-transaction-machine (ATM) comprising: a housing covering at least a portion of the ATM; a transmitter; a receiver; a processor at least partially configured to control at least portions of some financial transactions conducted by the ATM; wherein a banking computer system associated with the ATM is configured to receive a pre-created transaction request created by a customer using a mobile device communicating with the banking computer system, and wherein the ATM will not process the pre-created transaction request until the customer is verified to be present at the ATM; and wherein when the customer later brings the mobile device within range of the transmitter of the ATM, the ATM is configured to present transaction-verification data at the ATM operable to be received by the mobile device, wherein the receiver of the ATM is configured to receive mobile-verification data from the mobile device, wherein the mobile-verification data is responsive to the transaction-verification data, and wherein when the mobile-verification data is authenticated by the banking computer system the ATM is configured to execute the pre-created transaction request.
 5. The ATM of claim 1 wherein account information associated with the customer has earlier been preloaded into the mobile device, and wherein the banking computer system is configured to authenticate the account information before allowing the customer to create the pre-created transaction request.
 6. The ATM of claim 2 wherein the pre-created transaction request is a banking request for the ATM to dispense an amount of currency to the customer physically at the ATM.
 7. The ATM of claim 3 wherein the amount of currency is pre-deducted from a banking account of the customer before the customer is at the ATM.
 8. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the pre-created transaction request is a banking request to deposit an amount of currency into the ATM.
 9. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the pre-created transaction request is valid for a limited time and after the limited time the pre-created transaction request is void and the pre-created transaction request will not be performed.
 10. The ATM of claim 6 wherein the limited time is two hours or less.
 11. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the ATM is lacking a keypad, lacking a card reader, and lacking more than five user interface buttons.
 12. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the ATM lacks a keypad and lacks a card reader.
 13. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the transaction-verification data is a quick response (QR) code.
 14. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the transaction-verification data using wireless near-field communications (NFCs) protocols.
 15. The ATM of claim 1 wherein software on the mobile device communicates with the banking computer system to authenticate and authorize the pre-created transaction request before the customer and the mobile device arrive at the ATM.
 16. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.
 17. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the receiver is configured to transmit the transaction-verification data to the mobile device when the mobile device is tapped against the ATM.
 18. The ATM of claim 1 wherein the mobile device has no communications with the ATM until after the pre-created transaction request is created.
 19. An automatic transaction machine (ATM) comprising: a housing; a transmitter; a receiver; a cash dispenser configured to dispense cash;a deposit unit configured to accept deposits; a processor at least partially configured to control the cash dispenser and the deposit unit; wherein the ATM lacks a keypad; wherein the ATM lacks a card reader; wherein the ATM lacks more than three customer interface buttons; wherein a mobile device is configured to request and send a pre-created banking transaction request to a banking network, wherein the pre-created banking transaction request was created through the mobile device in communication with the banking network with the mobile device located away from the ATM without communication or interaction with the ATM, wherein the pre-created banking transaction request is matched to a banking account and authenticated while the mobile device is located away from the ATM and when the mobile device is without communication or interaction with the ATM, wherein no authentication of the mobile device or the pre-created banking transaction request is performed at the ATM, wherein when the pre-created banking transaction request is authenticated a corresponding executable transaction request is created by a computer on the banking network and the executable transaction is stored remotely from the mobile device, and wherein when the pre-created banking transaction request is authenticated a transaction identifier associated with the pre-created banking transaction request is generated by at least one computer on the network and sent to the ATM to present to the mobile device; and when a customer is at the ATM the receiver is configured to receive a response from the mobile device based on the transaction identifier, wherein the banking network is configured to verify if the response is valid and when the response is valid the ATM and the banking network are configured to perform the pre-created banking transaction request while the customer is physically present the ATM.
 20. The ATM of claim 16 wherein the pre-created banking transaction request is a request to dispense an amount of currency from the ATM.
 21. The ATM of claim 17 wherein the amount of currency is pre-deducted from the banking account of the customer before the mobile device is brought to the ATM and before the transaction identifier is received at the ATM.
 22. A method of performing a pre-created banking transaction at an ATM comprising: signaling from the ATM, responsive to the ATM sensing a mobile device near the ATM, a transaction identification of the pre-created banking transaction, and wherein the pre-created banking transaction is created by a customer using the mobile device remote from the ATM and is created before the customer arrives at the ATM; presenting the transaction identification at the ATM so that the transaction identification recognized by the mobile device, creating mobile-verification data at the mobile device in response to the transaction identification to indicate the customer carrying the mobile device has arrived at the ATM; and responsive to the mobile-verification data being authenticated by a banking computer system, the ATM is configured to perform the pre-created banking transaction.
 23. The method of claim 19 wherein the pre-created banking transaction is of at least one of the group of: a cash withdrawal request and a cash deposit request. 